Africa-Press – Rwanda. <\/strong><\/span>Norinco has opened a new sales office in Senegalese capital, Dakar, as it seeks to increase its reach in Africa<\/p>\nRussian sanctions and growing anti-French sentiment has left a gap in the market for the supply of arms and other military productsChina is expanding its military and security engagement into West Africa, with Chinese state-owned defence conglomerate Norinco opened a sales office in Dakar, Senegal, challenging French and Russian arms suppliers.<\/p>\n
Analysts said China North Industries Corporation, or Norinco, would use the new office to help expand its military procurement operations in the region, where China has vast economic interests, including in countries such as Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso and Guinea, which have recently been hit by military coups.<\/p>\n
According to defence publication Military Africa, Norinco also aims to set up operations in Mali and Ivory Coast \u2013 countries where the Chinese military contractor already has market presence through the sale of arms. It also plans to establish centres for maintenance, repair, and overhaul of vehicles and military equipment in those West African countries. Norinco already has regional offices in Nigeria, Angola and South Africa.<\/p>\n
Early this year, Norinco supplied Senegal with VN2 armoured infantry fighting vehicles and other reconnaissance vehicles, according to Military Africa. The Chinese company is also reportedly in discussions with the Senegalese government to supply light weaponry and ammunition for the country\u2019s environment ministry, the publication reported.<\/p>\n
Chinese arms manufacturers, including Norinco, want to increase market share at a time when the war in Ukraine has significantly cut Moscow\u2019s ability to supply African countries, according to observers.<\/p>\n
France has also lost clout since the military junta in Mali and Burkina Faso pushed French forces out and the Russian-linked Wagner Group mercenaries moved in to fill the gap.<\/p>\n
Paul Nantulya, a China specialist at the Africa Centre for Strategic Studies in Washington, said that initially China was reticent to be seen as challenging French military influence in West Africa, especially in former French colonies.<\/p>\n
Chinese ties were complicated by linguistic barriers. However, these impediments had slowly been overcome and Norinco in particular had been at the front of China\u2019s efforts to build and expand military and security ties, Nantulya said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe move to establish a sales office in Dakar is basically meant to capitalise on and expand this business, particularly in light of the heavy sanctions Russian defence firms have incurred and the growing mood of anti-French sentiment in the region that could complicate France\u2019s role as the pre-eminent military partner to many of those countries,\u201d Nantulya said.<\/p>\n
He said there had been growing militarisation in aspects of Chinese-African engagement as well as a growing willingness by Chinese defence firms to more boldly challenge their Western counterparts for business, influence, strengthened partnerships and to position China as a partner of choice.<\/p>\n
He said the Chinese company had been supplying West Africa with various military products such as battleships, offshore patrol vessels, man-portable air-defence systems, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), armoured vehicles, battle tanks, combat aircraft (jets and trainers), large artillery and transport aircraft.<\/p>\n
According to the Chinese Loans to Africa Database at Boston University\u2019s Global Development Policy Centre, between 2000 and 2020, China advanced 27 defence loans to eight African countries worth US$3.5 billion. Most of the money \u2013 US$2.1 billion \u2013 was advanced to Zambia for aircraft, fighter jet trainers and military equipment, and to build military and police residential housing.<\/p>\n
David Shinn, a China-Africa expert and professor at George Washington University\u2019s Elliott School of International Affairs, said Norinco had been a major arms supplier to African countries for many years and working constantly to increase sales across the continent.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe new office in Dakar is part of this wider effort,\u201d Shinn said.<\/p>\n
He said Russia had historically been the main arms supplier to Africa but the war in Ukraine had reduced its ability to do this, opening the door for Chinese arms manufacturers, including Norinco, to increase market share at the expense of Russian companies.<\/p>\n
\u201cChina is trying to increase both the quantity and sophistication of weapons that it sells to African countries,\u201d Shinn said. \u201cThese deals sometimes result in long-term supply and training arrangements that lead to increased security cooperation between African militaries and the PLA [People\u2019s Liberation Army].\u201d<\/p>\n
Luke Patey, a senior researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies, said China had established a strong foothold in Africa\u2019s arms scene and Norinco was at the forefront of those effects.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe rise of new conflicts and insurgencies on the continent produces expanding business opportunities for Chinese arms dealers,\u201d Patey said.<\/p>\n
Regional offices like Norinco\u2019s new outfit in Senegal, he said, provided a steady environment to sell weaponry, equipment and vehicles to both stable regional governments but also those under siege, such as in Mali.<\/p>\n
Patey said that since arms require training, parts and servicing, Norinco\u2019s new deals would deepen China\u2019s reach in West Africa and elsewhere for years to come.<\/p>\n
Francois Vrey, a professor of military science and research coordinator at the Security Institute for Governance and Leadership in Africa at Stellenbosch University, said armament companies opened offices where they viewed potential markets, and to offer support to clients buying their products. He said the latter then became part of packages offered to clients.<\/p>\n
Besides the supply of arms and military weapons, Norinco is also a big player in contracting in many African countries, such as in the Democratic Republic of the Congo\u2019s mining industry, and it recently won a US$1.2 billion contract for the construction of a crude oil pipeline in South Sudan.<\/p>\n
Huibang Group, a wholly owned subsidiary of Norinco, will serve as the engineering, procurement and contracting company. In June, Norinco was also among four companies that were shortlisted to buy Zambia\u2019s Mopani Copper Mines.<\/p>\n
For More News And Analysis About Rwanda<\/a> Follow Africa-Press<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Jevans Nyabiage Africa-Press – Rwanda. Norinco has opened a new sales office in Senegalese capital, Dakar, as it seeks to increase its reach in Africa Russian sanctions and growing anti-French sentiment has left a gap in the market for the supply of arms and other military productsChina is expanding its military and security engagement into […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":50725,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[24],"tags":[760,763,758],"class_list":["post-50726","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all-news","tag-africa-press","tag-africa-press-rwanda","tag-rwanda"],"yoast_head":"\n
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